The Economic Policy Institute yesterday an important analysis of unemployment rates at the metro level for African-Americans[1] and Latinos[2].

From 2009 to 2010, Charlotte had the fifth largest jump in unemployment for African-Americans among the country’s largest metro areas. The 4.2 percentage point jump represents a growing trend in increased economic hardship for communities of color across the Sun Belt according to the analysis. By comparison, before the Great Recession in 2007, Charlotte ranked 15th among metro areas for the unemployment rate of African-Americans.

As we have written elsewhere[3], the significant and disproportionate impact of the Great Recession on workers of color is driving greater economic hardship [4]in these communities and requires a targeted policy response.